The One Year Chronological Bible - Week 45 Reflection Questions

Week 45 (Nov 2-8): ??

As you read through these passages of the Bible, reflect upon these questions individually, through journaling, in pairs, or in small groups...

1. (11/2) In Mark 14:61, Jesus was before the Sanhedrin and we read that "Jesus remained silent and gave no answer."  What do you imagine was his reason for remaining silent rather than pleading his case?  Is this an example or perhaps a caution for us?
2. In Matthew 26:64, Jesus responded to the question of whether or not he is the messiah.  For His answer, he was condemned.  What motivated this call to execution?  What motivates our calls for execution today?  Are there any connections?
3. In Mark 14:66-72, Peter denied Christ 3 times before the rooster crowed a second time.  Peter went beyond mere denial to swearing.  When have you been caught in a lie?  Did you continue to deny things or did you choose to fess up?  What might you have done differently were you to do it all over again?
4. All four gospels record an account of Peter's denial.  What do you imagine was the significance of this for the early church?  What significance does this story carry for us today?
5. In Matthew 27, we read of Judas' suicide.  He felt remorse for what he had done, returned the money and then hung himself.  In our time in which suicide is so common, are there lessons here for how we might offer grace and/or healing to those who are struggling?
6. (11/3) Luke 23:12 tells us "That day Herod and Pilate became friends - before this they had been enemies."  What was it about this experience that you imagine brought them together?  What is the significance of sharing this detail?
7. In John 18:28-40, Pilate questioned Jesus.  Jesus claimed to testify to the truth and Pilate asked "What is truth?"  This continues to be a question for many people today, yet the text does not offer a response to Pilate's question.  How do you answer the question of what truth is?
8. In Mark 15:6-15 we read that the people called for the release of Barabbas, a violent insurrectionist, rather than Jesus.  Pilate saw through the self-interest of the chief priests in handing Jesus over, but perhaps there was more to this in the request for Barsabbas.  They chose a violent revolutionist rather than a peaceful one.  When today do we choose someone who will lead us in the ways that we want to go rather than the ways of the kingdom?
9. In Matthew 27:19 in the midst of deciding about what to do with Jesus, Pilate received a message from his wife warning him out of a dream that she had.  How would you have responded to such a message?  If you were the one to receive the dream would you have sent on the message?
10. In John 19:3 we read that they slapped Jesus in the face.  As believers, we are likely mortified by this kind of blatant action against Jesus.  Though none of us have literally slapped Jesus in the face, are there things in your life that you have done that have symbolically been a slap in the face to Jesus?
11. In John 19:15 the chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"  They who claimed Jesus had spoken blasphemy, themselves spoke blasphemy by raising Caesar above God.  Are there things in your life that you have raised above God?  What changes in priority are you called to make?
12. (11/4) In Matthew 27:32-34 we read of Simon of Cyrene being forced to carry Jesus' cross.  What are the burdens that you carry for someone else?  What is God calling you to do with those?
13. In Luke 23:32-43, we read of Jesus' prayer to forgive them for they know not what they are doing.  Jesus told us in Matthew that we should love even our enemies and now we read of him forgiving those who were doing such terrible things to him.  How able are we to follow this model?  What are our barriers to forgiveness?  Who do you need to forgive?
14. All four gospels note that Jesus was crucified with two others.  Mark and Matthew indicate that those crucified with him heaped insults on him.  Whereas Luke portrays one of the criminals as being critical of the other.  Is this a discrepancy?  If so, how are we to understand this?  If not, how do we explain this?
15. In Mark 15:38, we read, "The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."  What was the significance of this?
16. In Matthew 27:52-53, we read that at Jesus death, tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life and appeared to people in the city. This was a bodily resurrection not ghosts appearing to people.  What does reading this mean to you?
17. (11/5) In Luke 24:1-12, the angels asked the women, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"  Are there times that we still look for the living among the dead?  In what ways can we choose to focus our attention on the living rather than the dead?
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 May the Lord bless and shape us through our individual reading and corporate study of His word this year.